In a major relief to shack operators ahead of the upcoming tourist season, the state cabinet on Thursday approved a 50 per cent waiver to beach shack owners on licence fees, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant announced on Thursday during the cabinet briefing.
“In the tourism sector, the second decision that we have approved is the 50 per cent waiver to beach shack operators which will be a boost for the tourism industry,” said Sawant.
In August, Shack Owners’ Welfare Society (SOWS) had submitted a proposal to the tourism department asking for a reduction in licence and other fees charges for setting up seasonal shacks. The society had also submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant as well as tourism minister Manohar Ajgaonkar to provide relief to the shack operators for this year’s tourist season.
During the last tourism season also, the government had offered a 50 per cent reduction in license fees to beach shacks due to pandemic.
Shack allottees were seeking a rebate on the various fees owing to two back-to-back unprofitable seasons. However, Goa has been seeing a steady flow of tourists even as COVID-19 restrictions are yet to be lifted fully.
A beach shack licence is issued for three years and gets renewable every season during the validity period.
Seasonal shacks remain in operation from September to May. However, for the past two seasons, due to the pandemic, shacks were compelled to shut operations two months in advance.